Join us for the first Pan-African Juneteenth Celebration. We will celebrate our achievements through fellowship and song, strengthen our bonds, and explore avenues to advocate for change.

Juneteenth — also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day  — has been a tradition in the United States for more than 150 years. The holiday finds its roots in Texas, where enslaved African-Americans in the city of Galveston were finally informed of their freedom on June 19, 1865, about two and half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. Participation in Juneteenth celebrations grew throughout the years as descendants continued traditions in Texas and, as African-Americans in the South migrated across the country, Juneteenth celebrations began appearing in different cities.

To commemorate Emancipation Day, the Global Black Caucus has a tradition of celebrating the legacy of resilience and acknowledge the ongoing struggle through marches, prayers, and other remembrances. During gatherings, participants often picnic with traditional soul food dishes, one of the nation’s most identifiable culinary traditions.  Red food and drinks are traditional. Here are some recipes if you want to enjoy some traditional Juneteenth food and drinks.

Each June, Juneteenth celebrations across America and the world mark the anniversary of African Americans’ emancipation from enslavement and honor the ratification of the 13th Amendment while also examining the impact that slavery continues to have on America today.

Celebrate our Democracy and Freedom on this special day!  This event will not be on Facebook live.

Join us for a One-Of-A-Kind Event - Non-stop show from 6 pm to midnight!

Our democracy is still imperiled. The fight must continue. Help raise funds for Democrats Abroad Get Out the vote efforts in 2022. 

Buy a ticket even if you can't attend on 19 June. The event recording will be available for 60 days afterward. This is a global event with performers, many of who are Democrats Abroad Members from around the world.

• Musical performances in all genres from Opera to Rap from entertainers around the world.
• Poetry from our GBC Poet Laureates
• Art exhibition
• Lift Every and Sing Sing-along
• Fascinating historical facts about the holiday
• You can meet and talk with the artists in the VIP area. The first 25 people to sign up for VIP tickets receive a GBC swag bag.
• Segments from Black Caucus Juneteenth events around the world

Don't miss this Global Black Caucus event! RSVP Today!

US Citizens can pay below.

Non-US Citizens cannot make donations to Democrats Abroad but you can RSVP and pay here.

On the morning of May 30, 1921, a young black man named Dick Rowland was riding in the elevator in the Drexel Building at Third and Main with a white woman named Sarah Page. The details of what followed vary from person to person. Accounts of an incident circulated among the city’s white community during the day and became more exaggerated with each telling.

Tulsa police arrested Rowland the following day and began an investigation. An inflammatory report in the May 31 edition of the Tulsa Tribune spurred a confrontation between black and white-armed mobs around the courthouse where the sheriff and his men had barricaded the top floor to protect Rowland. Shots were fired and the outnumbered African Americans began retreating to the Greenwood District.

In the early morning hours of June 1, 1921, Greenwood was looted and burned by white rioters. Governor Robertson declared martial law, and National Guard troops arrived in Tulsa. Guardsmen assisted firemen in putting out fires, took African Americans out of the hands of vigilantes, and imprisoned all black Tulsans not already interned. Over 6,000 people were held at the Convention Hall and the Fairgrounds, some for as long as eight days.

Twenty-four hours after the violence erupted, it ceased. In the wake of the violence, 35 city blocks lay in charred ruins, more than 800 people were treated for injuries and contemporary reports of deaths began at 36. Historians now believe as many as 300 people may have died.

Watch our event commemorating the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Download the slides from the presentation

Listed below are some resources you can use to learn more about this tragedy and make sure nothing like this happens again.

Please join Democrats Abroad Toulouse on Saturday, June 19th to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bessie Coleman becoming a pilot in France. She was the first woman of color to earn her pilot's license, truly a milestone in history! 

The event will be moderated by Beatrice Monthioux, DA Toulouse Member-at-Large

Speakers will include: 

• Christine Debouzy - President of the French Association of Women Pilots
• Coline Béry - Specialist on Adrienne Bolland, aviatrix who did the same type of training before Coleman
• Olivier Sarrazain - Director of the documentary film "Bessie Coleman Première Aviatrice Noire"
• Françoise Sockeel - Of the Aeroclub of Abbeyville in the region where Coleman trained

The event will take place via Zoom. Please RSVP to receive a link for joining the event. 

Co-sponsored by the Global Black Caucus and Global Women's Caucus--Main organiser Jeaneen Johnson 

Juneteenth festivities continue with a different event hosted by the Global Black Caucus from 6pm to midnight CET where there will be music, poetry and art.  Please click here for more details and to RSVP for the particular event.

SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND KEYNOTES WOMEN’S ECONOMIC FORUM: RESETTING THE U.S. AGENDA FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

The return to Democratic leadership has reset the U.S. agenda for women across race, sexual orientation, and geography. This moment calls for bold political, social, and economic investments that lead to shared prosperity and equitable recovery for women.

Join U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for an important discussion of what is being done, and what must be done, at the Federal and State level to capitalize on this important moment, and to address the policy perspectives we bring as Democrats Abroad.

Senator from NY since 2009, Gillibrand has led legislative action on numerous issues including sexual assault in the military, child nutrition, childcare for members of the Armed Forces, and parental leave.  

Our conversation with the Senator will be followed by a panel of leading experts across several issue areas that impact women’s economic status as documented in the 2020 Democrats Abroad Platform and offer policy remedies that root out biases that shut women out.  

The Panel will examine four issues within the Platform that are key to reversing inequalities for women: Intersectionality, Economic Inequality, Social Safety Net, and Sexual Identity Equality. Featured Panelists:

Intersectionality: Why Connecting the Dots Matter in the Fight for Women’s Equality - Dr. Ronda Zelezney-Green, Chief Learning Officer, BRK Ujima

Economic Inequality – Building an Inclusive Economy for the Long Term - Dr. Linda Scott, Emeritus Professor, University Oxford

Social Welfare: Assuring A Baseline of Support and Security for Women - Dr. C. Nicole Mason, president/CEO, Institute for Women’s Policy Research (WPR)

The Economic Case for LGBT Equality - Dr. M. V. Lee Badgett, distinguished scholar, the Williams Institute & Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

The Forum, sponsored by the Global Women’s Caucus Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative will be presented virtually on Zoom from 3pm-5pm CET. Forum attendees will be invited to join discussion breakout sessions with our panelists at the conclusion of their presentations. This event is open to all DA members, US elected officials, members of academia, and the global expat community. 

You won’t want to miss this important exchange with champions of women’s issues.

Our Event Sponsors

In honor of Juneteenth and in celebration of Black excellence, join us in a discussion with Dr. Ava Thompson Greenwell about her documentary Mandela in Chicago.

Discussion will be moderated by our own Jazzmin Dian Moore and Sharon Hatchett (President of the Together is Better Alliance). There will be a Q&A session as well as break-out rooms for further discussion.

Check out this news post to learn more about Juneteenth, Mandela in Chicago, and TiBA.

Add to your Google Calendar.

The World we live in doesn't view us as we are.
It sees us through the scope of the biases that plague it
We are judged through a filter changing from person to person
We are not truly seen
Merely perceived
Presumed to be- and therefore, to the World we become

The World we live in doesn't view us as we are.
It sees us as is necessary for the continuations of the narrative bought into by the most people with the best weapons and the loudest voices.
The World decides how we define success, failure, truth, faith, our identity by putting us in categories to make us easier to manage.
He, She, They, Them, Non-binary, Straight, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Monogamous, Polyamorous, Pan-sexual, Asexual, Man, Woman, Black, White, Brown
Defined as therefore limited to

The World we live in doesn't view us as we are.
The World doesn’t view us.

People do

The World is an intangible set of ideas that we, People, have chosen to define ourselves and others by
We created these constructs so we can redefine them- if we want
And we must choose to
We must decide that the frames, boxes, cages- we have infused with ourselves to form our identities are indeed malleable.
We must want to accept more than our own ideals if we wish to share this world.
Because it does not only belong to one narrative- IT IS MADE OF MANY

The world we live in has People who don’t view us as we are.
But we can learn to see each other.
If we so choose.
And I hope we do.

Because I want the world I live in, to see me as I am.

Alexandra Smith

Paul's daughter Irene Melina Hickman reads his poem:

The history of a country can be known by its music.
You think you know how it feels to watch without
The ability to stop it.

As the structures collapse. As the fire maneuvers its
Way through the halls-windows and beams. Weakened
By the fire, the structures fall into ashes.

The laboring pain of the creators gone up in smoke
Caused by the vile deed of a false report.

That was 100 years ago

There they stood gazing into the empty streets with
The piles of burnt wood-melting steel and smoldering
Papers- pictures family heirlooms gone into the
Ashes of the wood from whence they came.

The Silence for 100 years

As they trod on the footsteps left by those whose hands
-Blood-sweat and tears labored to build a street
Envied by many.

They- the emancipated heirs of the former enslaved builders
Stand on their paths. Now the aftermath - just remnants
Of ashes and dust as far as their eyes could see.

The Silence for 100 years

And they have stood stoically patience waiting for
That which will not -rightfully come.

And that was 100 years ago- to this day!

Copyright © 2021 Paul S Hickman All Rights Reserved

Oh mother, mother, my dearest mother. As
I sit here. Remembering, your wisdom
And words of compassion. I surely do miss.
The consolation, of your gentle words. I
Surely do miss. The guiding wisdom of
Your yesteryear. I surely do miss.
The righteous, scolding from the depths of
Your knowledge. I surely do miss. The
Misunderstandings, because of my youth and
Lack of wisdom. I do acknowledge.
The failure, to hear your words, and my
Vile deeds. I do acknowledge. The failure
To fully exploit my talents and gifts. I
Do acknowledge.
And, oh mother, mother, my dearest mother.
The days and nights, will never go by, with –
Out thinking of you. Nor shall the years pass,
Without a loving thought of you.
And when I die, the last words I shall utter will
Be, I love you – my dearest mother.

Copyright © 1995 Paul S Hickman All Rights Reserved

She was an obedient child
Born of hard-working parents
Strictly raised morals ingrained
She was given a new assignment
From her third-grade teacher
To draw a picture family tree
Of her extended family
She poured through the crayon box
Looking for the right colors
Grandma’s cedar neck
Uncle James from Louisiana
His toothless pecan grin
Aunt Mabel from Kentucky
Her face like a shiny penny
Great Uncle Joe from Maryland
Gnarled like an old hickory tree
Her Georgia and South Carolina roots
Mama’s long peanut fingers
The burnt umber in her father’s skin
Her sister’s bushy chestnut hair
Her brother's smokey topaz eyes
She checked once again
But to no avail
Her school crayola box
With the built-in eraser
Had only one brown.

[email protected] All rights reserved
Camille Elaine Thomas
May 04, 2021